Ngwako Modjadji
As senior students across the country sit for their matric exams, the commercial crime investigative unit in the Eastern Cape has uncovered an alleged scam involving forged matric certificates to obtain government jobs.
A senior official has appeared in court on charges of fraud and forgery.
The scam comes in the wake of a commitment by Minister of Education Kader Asmal, in conjunction with all nine education MECs, to ensure that the country continue its clean record of matric certificates.
Over the past few years there have been reports of teachers selling papers to pupils but this year the department said it will tighten its security.
The Eastern Cape officials under investigation, some occupying top positions, allegedly lied about their qualifications and used fraudulent matric certificates to obtain employment.
Captain Arthur Oates of the East London police investigating unit says his unit has been tracking some of the officials in the department for some time and found indications of forged certificates. Oates says the investigation started in May this year after members of the public became suspicious and informed police.
Meanwhile a Port St Johns education specialist has appeared in court on fraud and forgery charges. Vuyelwa Ruba was appointed in 1997 as deputy chief education specialist in the Eastern Cape, a post that requires a bachelor’s degree and a minimum of seven years’ classroom experience.
Ruba claimed she had passed matric but an examination of the certificates allegedly showed her name was written in bold type, unlike other candidates’ certificates.
Investigators say the prosecution has withdrawn a similar charge against another suspect who turned state witness against Ruba. The case is still pending and Ruba will next appear in court on November 1.
Police say they are planning more arrests soon.
Eastern Cape Department of Education representative Papama Mefenyana said the Eastern Cape examination board did its own verification after someone in the department alerted them to the possibility that some senior officials did not have authentic matric certificates.
In an unrelated incident, police have warned members of the public that people with fraudulent matric certificates will be brought to book. The warning comes after police in Pretoria confiscated fake matric and degree certificates.
Kgeila Tjikana of Atteridgeville has been arrested and has twice appeared in court. He is to apply for bail at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Friday.